In a world where every job description is looking for someone who can think outside the box, being able to 'create' is a huge asset. The word 'create' describes a person who has the drive and ambition to go beyond what's expected of them. It shows that you're a forward-thinker who can look at problems from multiple angles, making you an invaluable asset to any team.

Create is a powerful word with a strong meaning but can also be overused. While you want your resume to show how creative and innovative you are, you don't want to overdo it. Furthermore, you should write your resume in the past tense; 'created' is preferable to 'create,' which suggests a current responsibility.

By using a few other words or synonyms to describe your creative abilities, you avoid overstating it. For example, instead of saying, 'I created an ad campaign,' you could say, 'I conceptualized an ad campaign.'

Using synonyms cleverly in your resume adds depth and nuance to it. It allows you, for example, to use different words that mean the same thing to describe your past accomplishments and make what you're saying more attractive to the recruiters.

I've compiled some synonyms you can use instead of Create on your resume, followed by real examples I've written for clients (feel free to use them!).

Resume Synonyms for Create:

Formulated
Carved
Purposed
Engineered
Spearheaded
Synthesized
Pioneered
Mapped
Generated
Produced
Induced
Yielded
Administered
Built
Launched
Developed
Acted
Customized
Modeled
Performed
Strategized
Translated
Conceptualized
Diagramed
Shaped
Streamlined
Intensified
Perfected

How to replace Create with a stronger action verb:

Let's look at examples of how you can remove and replace the overused phrase, Create, with a stronger synonym and alternative that is more effective at highlighting your achievements.

Before: Weak example using Create

• Created pricing and branding strategies for the team

⤸

After: Using a stronger synonym• Devised a pricing and branding strategy with the Strategy team to launch a new three-tier pricing model; the team achieved a 27% increase in profit versus the previous quarter.

Replacing Create with Formulated ▾

Before: Create

• Created marketing plans.

⤸

After: Formulated• Formulated comprehensive marketing plans, incorporating social media strategies that generated a 35% increase in online engagement within 6 months for a start-up e-commerce brand.

In this revision, I replaced 'create' with a more descriptive verb 'Formulated.' I also augmented impact by detailing the utilization of social media strategies, stating the type of company and time-frame, and quantifying the achieved result.

Tip: I've prepared a ton of additional examples for you to give you inspiration. Please click on any of the following to expand and see real examples of how I've rewritten client bullet points.

Replacing Create with Carved ▾

Before: Create

• Created educational pathways for students.

⤸

After: Carved• Carved out personalized educational pathways for 150 students in an urban school district, improving student engagement and academic performance by 40%.

In this improved statement, the action verb 'Carved' replaces 'Created' for a stronger impact. Also, the statement now carries more specificity in terms of the target population and the result of the action.

Replacing Create with Purposed ▾

Before: Create

• Created a strategy to cut down production costs.

⤸

After: Purposed• Purposed a succinct strategy that directly led to a 15% decrease in production costs in under six months by optimizing manufacturing processes at XYZ Inc.

Replacing 'Created' with 'Purposed' gave a sense of direction to the accomplishment. Specific details about the company, the percentage decrease in production costs, and the operational improvements make the statement impactful.

Replacing Create with Engineered ▾

Before: Create

• Created a new purchasing system.

⤸

After: Engineered• Engineered a streamlined online purchasing system for an e-commerce company, resulting in a 25% increase in customer satisfaction and a 10% boost in sales within the first quarter.

By using 'Engineered,' it implies an amalgamation of analysis, design, and creation, thus giving more depth to the task accomplished. Adding measurable results enhances the candidate's positive impact.

Replacing Create with Spearheaded ▾

Before: Create

• Created staff training programs.

⤸

After: Spearheaded• Spearheaded the development and implementation of new staff training programs, resulting in a 50% reduction in the on-boarding time whilst increasing staff performance by 20%.

The term 'Spearheaded' shows leadership and initiative, replacing the standard 'Created'. Providing numbers related to on-boarding time reduction and improvement in performance quantifies the accomplishment.

Replacing Create with Synthesized ▾

Before: Create

• Created new product ideas.

⤸

After: Synthesized• Synthesized customer feedback and current market trends to conceptualize and develop five innovative product lines that increased market share by 15%.

Replacing 'Created' with 'Synthesized' emphasizes critical thinking skills. The new statement also includes the method, a specific number of product lines, and the measurable increased market share.

Replacing Create with Pioneered ▾

Before: Create

• Created a risk assessment model.

⤸

After: Pioneered• Pioneered a novel risk assessment model for Bank XYZ, decreasing bad debt by 30% within the first year.

The term 'Pioneered' conveys an image of leadership and innovation. The revision includes the type of company, and quantifies the performance improvements adding much-needed specifics.

Replacing Create with Mapped ▾

Before: Create

• Created future business strategies.

⤸

After: Mapped• Mapped out robust business strategies for a Fintech startup, leading to a YoY growth of 40% and attracting $2M in Series A funding.

By replacing 'Created' with 'Mapped,' the accomplishment portrays the candidate's ability to plan and strategize. Quantifiable results and additional funding achieved add a strong impact.

How to use these synonyms in practice

We've put together an infographic to give you more examples of how to put this into practice. Note the use of strong action verbs instead of words like Create.

More resume bullet point samples that use strong synonyms

How to use Delivered on a resume:

• Delivered product solutions to institutional and corporate clients; grew customer base by +25% in Europe.

How to use Assessed on a resume:

• Assessed the product portfolio and created a brand turnaround strategy for a global fashion company; conducted qualitative interviews with industry experts and quantitative analysis to determine barriers to purchasing and distribution.

How to use Performed on a resume:

• Performed financial analysis to evaluate public and private financing alternatives to strengthen client's balance sheet.

How to use Led on a resume:

• Led five developers to establish client's ERP system; identified $1.5MM in cost savings, and secured $1MM+ in additional work for Accenture.

How to use Analyzed on a resume:

• Analyzed private equity firm's historical track record, evaluated performance against public indexes, and validated claims with investors and CEOs, resulting in commitments in excess of $300MM.

How to use Created on a resume:

• Created economic model to assess financial feasibility and operational synergies throughout the supply chain; identified >$50M in savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for Create on a resume?

Here are some synonyms for commonly repeated words, like Create, I see on resumes:

Induced
Produced
Conceptualized
Built
Generated
Performed

What can I say instead of Create on a resume?

Synonyms you can use instead of the overused phrase Create include:

Streamlined
Translated
Modeled
Yielded
Induced
Generated

Get a free resume review: Find out if your action verbs are strong enough.

To figure out if you're using the right verbs on your resume, you should upload it to the tool below. It'll analyze at each of your resume's bullet points and verbs, as well as 20+ key criteria hiring managers look for, and tell you if you have any big mistakes that need fixing.

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